Increasing EV charging capacity on the strategic road network

Who can apply

Your project

Your project must:

• have a grant funding request of between £500,000 and £3 million

• start funded activities by 1 July 2026

• represent a novel solution to power, grid and operational constraints to public EV charging provision, faced at all purpose trunk road (APTR) cold spots and Motorway Service Area (MSAs) along the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England

• complete funded development and real world deployment activities by 31 March 2028 in line with standards or requirements

• operate the solution safely with appropriate maintenance and customer support (self funded) for at least three years from 31 March 2028

• be demonstrated at one or more MSA sites, or one or more sites within one mile of the SRN, so as to reduce or eliminate an APTR cold spot area

Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and must intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.

Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.

You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs. For specific guidance, see the eligibility section in this competition.

Lead organisation

To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.

The consortium can contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application.

You will be made ineligible if your business falls under the Windsor framework.

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Academic institutions, RTOs and organisations that are not profit driven or do not have a commercial focus, including Community Interest Companies (CICs) and charities, are not allowed to lead in this competition.

Project team

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:

• business of any size

• academic institution

• charity

• not for profit

• public sector organisation

• research and technology organisation (RTO)

Your project consortium must include partners that perform the functions of an SRN site operator and an EV charge point operator (CPO) in England. One organisation can perform both functions.

Project participants can also include, but are not limited to:

• transport sector stakeholders such as service area operators, road operators, charging equipment developers and suppliers, charge point operators (CPO), or EV fleet operators

• energy sector stakeholders such as Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs), Independent Connection Providers (ICPs), energy suppliers, generation, storage or distribution equipment or system developers, flexibility system operators

• IT, digital and cyber security stakeholders, for example, energy management, monitoring and sensing system developers and operators

• infrastructure owners

• investors

• end users

Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once partners have accepted the invitation, they will be asked to login or to create an account in IFS. They are responsible for entering their own project costs and completing their Project Impact questions in the application.

To be an eligible collaboration, the lead and at least one other organisation must:

• apply for funding when entering their costs into the application

• include rationale for the collaboration and describe the structure in your application

• ensure any one partner does not account for more than 70% of the total eligible costs

Non-funded partners

Your project can include organisations who do not claim any funding for their work on the project. Their costs will be covered from their own resources. These can include UK, EU and other non-UK organisations. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work from within their home countries and exploit the results outside the UK.

Where non-funded partners have been invited to the application on IFS, their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in your application as to why you cannot use subcontractors from the UK.

You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs.

Number of applications

Businesses can only lead on one application, but can collaborate on any number of applications. Other organisations can collaborate in any number of applications.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both that in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

Previous applications

You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

If you have previously submitted an application that reached our assessment stage, you can re-apply once more with the same proposal.

If there are minor differences to the proposal, but it is judged by us to be ‘not materially different’, the same rule applies.

We will not award you funding if you have:

• failed to exploit a previously funded project

• an overdue independent accountant’s report

• failed to comply with grant terms and conditions

Innovate UK may withhold a grant payment at any time if you have any outstanding sums due to us in relation to other projects.

Subsidy control (and State aid where applicable)

This competition provides funding to enterprises using the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme.

The Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Scheme can be viewed on the subsidy database here: SC10780.

This is in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk).

Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty. We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage.

EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

You will be made ineligible if your business falls under the Windsor framework.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.

The maximum subsidy amount which can be awarded per individual enterprise under this route is £3 million. Cumulation rules will apply if you have received funding from any Public Authority which meets all of the following conditions :

• for the same project, or activities defined in this project

• for the same, or substantially the same, specific purpose

• within the last three financial years, that is, the last two complete financial years running from April to 31 March and the lapsed part of the current financial year

If this applies, it may affect the amount of subsidy you can be awarded for this project.

Further Information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must not do anything which could cause a breach of Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.

This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries.

This award is classified as a Subsidy which does not form part of your Minimal Financial Assistance or De Minimis allowance.

Funding

Up to £10 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. This is subject to us receiving a sufficient number of high quality applications. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

We reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions under exceptional circumstances, for example, in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations, or broader government funding decisions.

If your organisation’s work on the project is commercial or economic, your funding request must not exceed the limits below. These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically but for the purpose of this project will be undertaking commercial or economic activity.

The balance between your total eligible project costs and the amount of grant awarded must be funded by the organisation receiving the grant.

For Industrial research projects and Experimental development projects in the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme you can get funding for your eligible project costs of:

Category 2 Industrial research projects

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

Category 2 Experimental development projects which are nearer to market

• up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 35% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 25% if you are a large organisation

For more information on company sizes, refer to the company accounts guidance.

If you are applying for an award funded under State aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.

Innovate UK may revoke our decision to provide funding without notice if government commitment for this initiative is withdrawn.

Research participation

The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them. Of that 30% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:

• 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not for profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation

• 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are a Je-S registered institution such as an academic

Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding

1. Research organisations using the Je-S system must submit their costs through the Je-S system which calculates the 80% FEC figure.

2. On IFS, only the 80% FEC output should be entered at 100% funding.

3. Applicants do not need to show the remaining 20% on the finance table.

To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics.

Your proposal

The aim of this competition is to:

• test novel whole systems concepts in a real world setting, which address electric vehicle (EV) charging power challenges along the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England

• develop and demonstrate innovative solutions addressing short to medium term grid and operational constraints to EV charging provision, faced at all purpose trunk road (APTR) cold spots and Motorway Service Areas (MSAs) along the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England

• enable at least 12 EVs (primarily cars and vans) to access ultra rapid (150kW or more) charging at SRN sites on motorways and APTR in England

• build sector capability and foster a shared focus on improving Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on the SRN in England

• widely disseminate learning which can enable industry to address power, grid and operational challenges to EV charging provision along the SRN in England 

Your proposal must:

• produce a detailed plan of deployment addressing short to medium term power, grid and operational constraints to the roll out of public ultra rapid EV charging for at least one site on the SRN in England

• develop and deploy the solution at one or more MSA sites, or one or more sites within one mile of the SRN so as to reduce or eliminate an APTR cold spot area, within the funded period

• continue to operate that solution with appropriate maintenance and customer support (self funded) for at least three years beyond the end of funding

• address the challenges of public EV charging interoperability and the need for compatibility for users across the SRN in England

• show that you understand relevant design requirements

• consider the safety of users of the SRN in England and other affected groups, in line with standards such as GG 104 - Requirements for safety risk assessment

• report and disseminate learnings from your development and deployment activity to build sector capability, for example, through academic or industry papers, website and social media articles

• report and disseminate your learnings during the three years of operation

• agree to take part in monitoring and evaluation activities run by the funders or their agents, if requested

• understand that information you provide for monitoring and evaluation may be included in published evaluation reports in aggregated format

• provide open data for all charge points installed in your projects, in line with Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 guidance - GOV.UK

Your project may integrate multiple technology solutions and stakeholders using a whole systems approach to address one or more of the following challenges:

• increase delivery of additional ultra rapid EV charging serving the SRN where it is needed most, at APTR cold spots and MSAs

• increase the available power at constrained SRN sites in England for ultra rapid public EV Charging, especially from renewables

• manage imbalances between EV charging peak demand, against energy supply constraints

• increase energy and EV charging resilience by considering site-wide power requirements at SRN sites in England

• reduce EV charging costs for consumers at SRN sites in England

• consider electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) or coach charging requirements in addition to the minimum requirement for provision to support 12 EV cars and vans at 150kW or above

Portfolio approach

We want to fund a variety of projects across different technologies, geographies, site and charge point operators (CPO), site challenges, with a variety of partners. We call this a portfolio approach.

Specific themes

Your project must develop and demonstrate a novel solution to grid, power and operational barriers which prevent sites in APTR cold spots and motorway service areas (MSAs) from simultaneously charging at least 12 EVs (cars and vans) at 150kW or more by 2030.

Your project must focus on:

• improving grid constraint challenges along the SRN in England

• ultra rapid 150 kW or more charging provision, primarily for cars and vans

• deploying the solution in at least one site experiencing these challenges on an APTR cold spot or MSA

• demonstrating capability to replicate and enable wider roll out of solutions along the SRN in England

Your project can include technologies such as, but not limited to:

• distributed energy generation, excluding biomass or solutions which create further emissions

• private wire or private networks

• grid boosting technology

• energy storage systems

• energy management systems

• advanced monitoring solutions collecting real time data

• demand response tools

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

• a whole systems approach integrating multiple solutions to address grid constraints faced by the SRNs EV charging ecosystem

• solutions which address an individual element of this ecosystem

• a place based solution addressing site specific challenges, which can be replicated along the SRN in future

• solutions to grid challenges addressing multiple sites

Research categories

We will fund industrial research projects and experimental development projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research

Projects we will not fund

We are not funding projects that:

• would have taken place in the absence of grant funding

• only address current EV Charging demand

• do not address power, grid and operational constraints to EV charging provision up to 2030

• do not address increasing the capacity of EV charging at MSAs or at APTR cold spots along the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England

• do not enable a minimum of 12 EV cars and vans to access ultra rapid (150KW or more) charging

• focus on HGV or coach charging only

• focus on sites which do not reduce APTR cold spots and MSA locations on the SRN in England

• focus on sites beyond one mile from the SRN in England

• focus on sites which do not have constraints to meeting EV charging demand forecasts for 2030

• use biomass or electricity generation methods which create further emissions

• increase risk to users of the SRN in England

• cannot be delivered within the timeframe set out in this competition

We cannot fund projects that are:

• dependent on export performance, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of bread to another country

• dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it uses 50% UK flour in their product

11 November 2025

Online briefing event: register to attend

(Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event)

15 May 2026

Applicants notified

1 July 2026

Project start from

Before you start

You must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start.

Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure:

• that all the information provided in the application is correct

• your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria

• all sections of the application are marked as complete

• that all partners have completed all assigned sections and accepted the terms and conditions (T&Cs)

You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline. You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline.

What we ask you

The application is split into four sections:

1. Project details.

2. Application questions.

3. Finances.

4. Project Impact.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

1. Project details

This section provides background for your application and is not scored.

Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.

Application team

Decide which organisations will work with you on your project and invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.

Application details

Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Research category

Select the type of research you will undertake.

Project summary

Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Public description

Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This can happen before you start your project.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Scope

Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be sent for assessment. We will tell you the reason why.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score all your answers apart from questions 1 to 6. You will receive feedback for each scored question. Find out more about how our assessors assess and how we select applications for funding.

You must answer all questions.

You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. If you do, your application will be made ineligible.

Question 1. Applicant location (not scored)

You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation and any partners or subcontractors working on your project.

We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

Your answer can be up to 100 words long.

Question 2. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 3. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

• In the process of being applied for

• Not applicable

Question 4. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement.

You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in.

You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

Your answer can be up to 100 words long.

Question 5. Export licence (not scored)

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

Question 6. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

• a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research

• a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act

• whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications

• a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 7. Need or challenge

What is the business need, technological challenge, or market opportunity behind your innovation?

Explain:

• the specific barriers to provision of ultra rapid public EV charging at the sites chosen for deployment

• your energy demand challenge

• how this development and real world demonstration will help you respond to the EV charging needs and grid challenges identified at the sites chosen for deployment

• the wider market opportunity for the technologies to be trialled

• whether you have identified any similar innovation and its current limitations, including those close to market or in development

• any work you have already done to respond to this need, for example, if the project focuses on developing an existing capability or building a new one

• the wider economic, social, environmental, cultural or political challenges which are influential in creating the opportunity, such as incoming regulations

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

Question 8. Approach and innovation

What approach will you take and where will the focus of the innovation be?

Explain:

• the number of chargers to be deployed, including their power ratings, in Kilowatts (kW)

• the proposed deployment and demonstration locations, including address and coordinates in British National Grid (EPSG:27700) format, with Eastings and Northings to the nearest ten metres

• which APTR cold spot your project addresses

• how your project is innovative

• how you have considered and will demonstrate compliance with design standards, planning and traffic management requirements in your project

• how you will tackle any interfaces with the Strategic Road Network (SRN), especially considering safety impacts

• how you have estimated site demand for EV Charging up to 2030 providing any projections on the number of charge points and power (kW) required

• your readiness to procure equipment, resources and permissions in the time available, and outline any preparations already made

• the proposed commercial arrangements between relevant stakeholders for operation throughout the demonstration period

• how you will monitor and measure the increase in EV charging capacity during the demonstration period

• how your solution aligns with the principles of interoperability, cyber-security, data privacy, grid stability and transitioning to a net zero energy system

• whether your solution will be upgradeable in the future

• your pathway to testing and certification

• how your solution will improve on any similar innovation that you have identified

• whether the innovation will focus on existing technologies in new areas, the development of new technologies for existing areas, or a totally disruptive approach

• the freedom you have to operate

• how this project fits with your current product, service lines or offerings

• how it will make you more competitive

• the nature of the outputs you expect from the project, for example, reports, demonstrator, know-how, new process, product or service design, and how these will help you to target the need, challenge or opportunity identified

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix to support your answer. It can include text, diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to six A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 9. Team and resources

Who is in the project team and what are the key resources required to deliver your project?

Explain:

• the roles, responsibilities, skills and experience of all members of the project team, including partners and subcontractors that are relevant to the approach you will be taking

• the details of any vital external parties, including subcontractors, who you will need to work with to successfully carry out the project

• the current relationships between project partners and how these will change as a result of the project, including where new contractual arrangements are required

• any roles you will need to recruit for and your associated recruitment plans

• the resources, equipment and facilities needed for the project and how you will access them, including grid connections, hardware installations, software systems and any trial facilities prior to deployment

• all licences or permits, access rights and permissions you will need, and outline the current status of each

• your quality management standards, including how you will assure this project’s outputs

Your answer can be up to 800 words long.

You must submit one appendix, including information about the main people and resources required on the project to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to four A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 10. Market awareness

For technology partners, what does the market or markets you are targeting look like?

Describe:

• the target markets for the project outcomes and any other potential markets, either domestic, international or both

• the size of the target markets for the project outcomes, backed up by references where available

• the structure and dynamics of the target markets, including customer segmentation, together with predicted growth rates within clear timeframes

• the target markets’ main supply or value chains and business models, and any barriers to entry that exist

• the current UK position in targeting these markets

• the size and main features of any other markets not already listed

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 11. Outcomes and route to market

How will the project help you to respond to increasing demand from EV cars and vans making long journeys along the SRN in England? How will this innovation improve the commercial viability of SRN sites with grid constraints?

For technology partners, how are you going to grow your business and increase long term productivity as a result of the project?

Explain:

• your current position in the markets and supply or value chains outlined, and whether you will be extending or establishing your market position

• your target customers or end users, and the value to them, for example, why they would use or buy your product

• your route to market

• how you are going to profit from the innovation, including increased revenues or cost reduction

• how the innovation will affect your productivity and growth, in both the short and the long term

• how you will protect and exploit the outputs of the project, for example, through know-how, patenting, designs or changes to your business model

• your strategy for targeting the other markets you have identified during or after the project

If there is any research organisation activity in the project, describe:

• your plans to spread the project’s research outputs over a reasonable timescale

• how you expect to use the results generated from the project in further research activities

Your answer can be up to 800 words long.

Question 12. Wider impacts

What impact might this project have outside the project team?

Describe and, where possible, measure the economic benefits from the project such as productivity increases and import substitution, to:

• external parties

• customers

• others in the supply chain

• broader industry

• the UK economy

Describe and, where possible, measure:

• any expected impact on government priorities

• any expected environmental impacts, either positive or negative

• any expected regional impacts of the project

Describe any expected social impacts, either positive or negative, on, for example:

• quality of life

• social inclusion or exclusion

• jobs, such as safeguarding, creating, changing or displacing them

• education

• public empowerment

• health and safety

• regulations

• diversity

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 13. Project management

How will you manage your project effectively?

Explain:

• the main work packages of your project, indicating the lead partner assigned to each and the total cost of each one

• your approach to project management, identifying any major tools and mechanisms you will use to get a successful and innovative project outcome

• the management reporting lines

• your governance arrangements

• your project plan in enough detail to identify any links or dependencies between work packages or milestones including activities to secure all required resources, permits and licences, permissions, equipment and facilities in order to deploy the solution and deliver the demonstration in the time required

• how you will manage risks to provide a realistic timing plan, for example, consider how stakeholder delays and business peak periods may impact project delivery, integration and testing activities

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

You must submit a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to four A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 14. Risks

What are the main risks for this project?

Explain:

• the main risks and uncertainties of the project, including the technical, commercial, managerial, safety and environmental risks

• how you will mitigate these risks

• any project inputs that are critical to completion, such as resources, expertise, permits, licenses and approvals, land access and data sets

• any output likely to be subject to regulatory requirements, certification, ethical issues and other requirements identified, and how you will manage this

• any critical stakeholder interfaces, for example, with Distribution Network Operators (DNO), charge point operators (CPO), land owners, and how you will manage them

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must submit a risk register as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 15. Added value

How will this innovation improve the commercial viability of SRN sites with grid constraints? How will this funding help you to test the solutions developed in the specific SRN context, and to accelerate or enhance your approach towards commercialisation of the technologies involved? What impact would this award have on the various organisations involved?

Explain:

• what advantages public funding would offer your project, for example: appeal to investors, more partners, reduced risk or a faster route to market

• the likely impact of the project outcomes on the organisations involved

• what other routes of investment or means of support you have already engaged with and why they were not suitable

• how any existing or potential investment or support will be used in conjunction with the grant funding

• what your project would look like without public funding

• how this project would change the R&D activities of all the organisations involved

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 16. Costs and value for money

How much will the project cost and how does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?

In terms of your project goals, explain:

• your total eligible project costs

• the grant you are requesting

• how each partner will finance their contributions to your project

• how this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayer

• how it compares to what you would spend your money on otherwise

• the balance of costs and grant across the project partners

• any subcontractor costs and why they are critical to your project

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

3. Finances

Each organisation in your project must complete their own project costs, organisation details and funding details in the application. Academic institutions must complete and upload a Je-S form.

For an overview on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance. Note this is general guidance, for specific guidance see the eligibility section in this competition. You can also view our application finances video.

4. Project Impact

This section is not scored but will provide background to your project.

Each partner must complete the Project Impact questions before being able to submit the application.

More information can be found in our Project Impact guidance and by viewing our Impact Management Framework video.

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

Assessment

Your application will be reviewed by three independent assessors based on the content of your application and their skills or expertise relevant to your project. All of the scores awarded will count towards the total score used to make the funding decision unless you are notified otherwise.

You can find out more about our assessment process in the General Guidance.

Your submitted application will be assessed against these criteria:

EV Charging Innovation on SRN at MSAs - Assessor guidance for applicants.pdf

Background and further information

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is a cross government team spanning the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which supports the transition to zero emission vehicles.

National Highways is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Transport. As the manager of England’s Strategic Road Network, they are a key stakeholder in this competition.

Charging provision on the strategic road network, which covers motorways and major A-roads in England, has grown substantially over the last few years. There are more than 5,500 open access rapid and ultra rapid chargepoints within one mile of the strategic road network (SRN) (Zapmap, April 2025). This includes more than 1,100 chargepoints at motorway service areas (industry data, July 2025).

The public chargepoint network along the SRN in England, needs to continue to grow over the coming years as the number of EVs on our roads increases. Government continues to work with industry and other stakeholders where specific barriers remain. Visible, reliable and accessible ultra rapid charging facilities along the SRN are essential to facilitate long EV journeys, but grid and operational constraints remain. This results in all purpose trunk road (APTR) cold spots along the SRN, which are locations where an EV could not reach six ultra rapid charge points within 20 miles. This competition seeks innovative solutions to these challenges.

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 ensure that the experience of consumers using public charge points across the United Kingdom is consistent and positive. It helps operators of publicly accessible EV charge points to understand the requirements and provides examples of compliance and good practise.

The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme is backed by circa £200 million in funding from the Department for Transport and is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. In addition to deploying over 300 of the heaviest battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on UK roads, the programme is also funding 73 planned infrastructure locations, representing over 360 charging bays. Some of these charging points will be located along the SRN in England.

We also encourage exploring opportunities to align funding through other programmes including Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). This SIF is a £450 million fund which aims to deliver energy network innovation towards net zero and drive real net benefits to network consumers, with projects to be led by one of the Ofgem licensed energy networks. Energy networks are well placed to innovate collaboratively on decarbonisation of transport given their role in enabling the effective connection and integration of energy demands.

Relevant areas of scope from the SIF Round 5 challenges, which run until the end of 2026, include:

• improving demand centre energy forecasting and understanding load growth

• implementing flexibility and efficiency strategies to reduce grid impact

• accelerating grid connections and infrastructure scaling

• whole system modelling and scenario analysis

• development and demonstration of high impact multi-vector configurations

The APTR Cold Spots locations map and table are available in this PDF document:

Charging Innovation on SRN - Supporting documents.pdf (opens in a new window)

Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Scheme Information

This award is being offered under the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme in accordance with section 10(4) of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Projects funded must meet one of the following definitions:

Category 2: Industrial research​

​The planned research or critical investigation that is aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services. It can also be for projects that are aimed at bringing about a significant improvement in existing products, processes or services. ​

This would include digital products, processes or services, in any technology, industry or sector , including, but not limited to, digital industries and technologies, such as super-computing, quantum technologies, block chain technologies, artificial intelligence, cyber security, big data and cloud technologies. ​

Industrial research comprises the creation of component parts of complex systems. It may include the construction of prototypes in a laboratory environment or in an environment with simulated interfaces to existing systems as well as of pilot lines. Where necessary, this would be for the industrial research and notably for generic technology validation.​

Category 2: Experimental development

Means acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing new or improved products, processes or services. ​

This includes:

• digital products

• processes or services, in any technology,

• industry or sector, including but not limited to, digital industries and technologies, for example, super-computing

• quantum technologies

• block chain technologies

• artificial intelligence

• cyber security

• big data

• cloud or edge technologies ​

This may also encompass, for example, activities aimed at the conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services.​

Experimental development may comprise prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real-life operating conditions. This would be where the primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set. ​

This may include the development of a commercially usable prototype or pilot which is necessary for the final commercial product and which is too expensive to produce for it to be used only for demonstration and validation purposes. ​

Experimental development does not include routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress, even if those changes may represent improvements. ​

Briefing recording and slides

Briefing recording and slides will be available to download here after the briefing event.

What happens if you receive a grant offer

If you have passed your initial assessment and have received an email with a grant offer, you will be asked to complete the project setup process on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Watch our video on what steps are there before a project starts.

We will ask for information that will allow us to undertake mandatory checks on your organisation and the eligibility of your costs, as well as review the documentation for your project.

You must follow the unique link embedded in your email notification. This takes you to your project's dedicated IFS Set Up portal, where we gather the information required to set up your project, for example your bank details. Watch our video on how successful applicants receive their funding.

If your application is unsuccessful

If you are unsuccessful with your application this time, you can view feedback from the assessors. This will be available to you on your IFS portal following notification.

Sometimes your application will have scored well, and you will receive positive comments from the assessors. You may be unsuccessful as your average score was not above the funding threshold or your project has not been selected under the portfolio approach if this is applied for this competition.

We would like to remind you that eligible non-funded business can still benefit from fully funded and bespoke support from the Innovate UK Business Growth service.

Find a project partner

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect.

Support for SMEs from Innovate UK Business Growth service

Innovate UK Business Growth helps innovation focused businesses make the best strategic choices and access the right resources, in order to grow and ultimately achieve scale.

Our innovation and growth specialists provide our fully funded and bespoke support to clients nationwide. Visit the service’s website to discover whether you could benefit from this advisory support, which is available to Innovate UK funded and non-funded businesses alike.

Protecting your innovation

A Secure Innovation campaign has been developed to help founders and leaders of innovative startups protect their technology, competitive advantage, and reputation.

This was developed by UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) (each an ‘agency’).

Any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to OZEV and vice versa. This would include, but is not restricted to:

• the information stated on the application, including the personal details of all applicants

• scoring and feedback on the application

• information received during the management and administration of the grant, such as Monitoring Service Provider reports and Independent Accountant Reports

Innovate UK may also share any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application with Innovate UK’s national and regional UK third parties and partners who may contact you. For more information see how we handle grant applicant and grant holder data.

Innovate UK and OZEV are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect and OZEV will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK’s Privacy Policy

Innovate UK Business Connect Privacy Policy

Office for Zero Emission Vehicles Privacy Policy

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

Contact us

If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Innovate UK or any of our partners will not tolerate abusive language in any written or verbal correspondence, applications, social media or any other form that might affect staff.